Drover Alum Since Day One: Tim Koehler
Class of 97’ alumni Tim Koehler is a cherished Chickasha community member and familiar face here at the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma.
Koehler, a first-generation college student, had recently graduated from Northwest Classen High School in 1990 and was navigating scholarship applications on his own. Unsure if he could afford college, he got some guidance when his uncle connected him with someone who could help.
“My uncle set up a meeting for me to visit with the Financial Aid Director and we were able to figure out a way for me to make it work. This connection and the affordability of USAO were the primary reasons for me choosing this university,” Koehler said.
Koehler started his academic journey as an accounting major. “I always thought that would be something I would be good at and could make a nice living as an accountant,” Koehler said. “After taking a couple of accounting classes, I began to question if this is really what I wanted to do. While enrolled in Accounting II, I was also taking my first Econ class. I found the material we studied in Econ was way more interesting to me than any other classes I was taking. By the time I completed my 2nd Econ class, I knew that I needed to change my major.”
He earned a Bachelor of Science in economics with a minor in mathematics. Koehler started his career in banking in September 2000 and is now a commercial banker at Arvest Bank in Chickasha. He completed one year of graduate school at the University of Oklahoma while working two jobs as a single parent before meeting his wife, Amy, who he married in June 2010. They now have a blended family including four children. Even with over 20 years of experience in banking, Koehler still finds time for his alma mater by serving on the USAO board of trustees.
During his time as a student at USAO, Koehler recalled several people and events that had an impact on his life. “If I were to just choose one, I would probably say Dr. Rice had the biggest impact,” Koehler said. “He was a brand-new professor when I was taking my 2nd Econ class and to be honest, he was not the most popular professor at that time. However, I found that his classes were challenging but my interest in Economics grew as I took more of his classes. He was also the person that recommended I go to graduate school. Although I did not complete graduate school, I would not have experienced it at all if it were not for his recommendation.”
Koehler has worked in roles such as customer service, teller, new accounts, and as a lender. “I feel that my time at USAO helped prepare me for my different roles and the advancement of my career by enhancing my communication skills and instilling self-confidence,” Koehler said.
To current students who are learning about all the hard parts of college, Koehler offers advice from his own experience. “The struggle is part of the journey,” he said. “If getting a college degree was easy, it would not have as much value. Most will have struggles throughout their life so learning to persevere to reach your goals may be the most valuable thing you gain during your college journey. Find someone you can share your struggles with, and you may find that just talking about it will help you get through it.”
About the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma
As Oklahoma’s liberal arts college, the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma provides a distinctive education in the liberal arts and sciences, supporting both its interdisciplinary core curriculum and major fields of study with superior teaching. USAO fosters diversity of thought and practice to help students realize meaningful, purposeful and productive lives as global citizens in a rapidly-changing world.